Dear Parents and Students, Schmucker Middle School s Ski Club is now in the process of forming for the 2017-2018 season. Ski Club is open to all students who are able to keep up with their schoolwork even if you have never skied or snowboarded before! Ski Club offers a great opportunity for students to learn a lifelong sport while improving coordination and physical endurance. While Ski Club is ALL about the fun and excitement of hitting the slopes, what better way is there to get pumped up before the snow arrives for the upcoming season than to attend our annual Ski Club Kick-Off Event? Read on Warren Miller movie premiere at the South Bend Civic Theater! Warren Miller is a famous ski and snowboard film-maker. His movies highlight the best talent and the most exotic locations in the world for skiing and other action sports. Through the years, skiers and snowboarders have made it a tradition to see the new Warren Miller movie as the official start of the ski season. For the tenth straight year, Schmucker will continue the tradition by offering a screening of the movie along with an UNBELIEVABLE package of FREE lift tickets, a free Skiing magazine subscription, and more for EVERY ATTENDEE! You may want to order tickets for your family and friends because ski deals like this don t come around very often. You may order tickets on your registration form or purchase them separately. Both skiers and snowboarders are welcome in Ski Club so tell your friends, join, and let's have a great season! Thank You, Mr. Sears SMS Ski Club Head Sponsor 1. This packet contains important information about SMS Ski Club including Ski Club features, dates, pricing, apparel, skiing tips, rules, etc. Please carefully review ALL of the information, and KEEP this packet for reference throughout the season! 2. The Forms Packet includes all of the required forms that must be turned in to the office or Mr. Sears along with your payment (if using a check, please make it payable to Schmucker ) Ski Club Forms Packet & payment should be turned in to Mr. Sears or the office by Wednesday, November, 22. You may still join after that date, but you must pay a $10 LATE FEE!
TRANSPORTATION On Ski Club nights, buses will leave Schmucker's west (back) parking lot promptly at 4:15 p.m. and will return by approximately 9:15 p.m. Rides should be at Schmucker by 9:15 p.m. NOTE There are 2 exceptions to the 9:15 pick-up time. The first 2 trips this year are Friday trips, so we will be staying an hour later on those nights! NOTE 2 For the safety and enjoyment of all, any student who is late boarding their bus at Swiss Valley will not be allowed to ride the bus to Swiss Valley the following week. If the same student is late a second time, the student will no longer be allowed to ride the bus to or from Swiss Valley. Similar consequences may be enforced for students whose rides are consistently late. GRANGER (DQ) DROP-OFF You may choose whether you would like to pick up your child at DQ or at SMS after ski trips. Granger drop-off is available to members who select Granger Dairy Queen as their drop-off location when signing up. This is a great time- and gas-saver for many of our members. SMS Ski Club parent volunteers will supervise the DQ parking lot until all members have been picked up. Special Ride Arrangements What if I want to ride home from Swiss Valley with my parents or friend s parents on a Ski Club night? You must give a note to Mr. Sears OR your bus chaperone from your parent/guardian giving you permission. Example - (Ski Club member name) from bus # may ride home with on (date). (Signature). This is essential since we take attendance by name both before and after skiing to ensure that we have accounted for all members. SKI CLUB APPAREL & CHEVRONS Screen-printed SKI CLUB t-shirts, long-sleeved t-shirts, and sweatshirts (crew necks & hoodies) are available for members to order on the registration form. Chevrons for letter jackets are available with your choice of either a Skier or a Snowboarder. You may order stickers, chevrons, embroidered hats, & screen-printed items when signing up for Ski Club. SNOW CONDITIONS/CANCELLATIONS Swiss Valley makes its own snow, so unless a cancellation is announced by noon on Ski Club day, assume we ARE skiing. Make-up dates are scheduled for the next available Monday (or Tuesday if no school Monday) following our final scheduled trip. THE Ski Club CARD The Ski Club Card is not replaceable! Do not lose this card it is LIKE CASH! If you do not have your Ski Club Card with you when you arrive at Swiss Valley, you may "borrow" a punch from another club member or you will have to pay for a lift ticket that day. Do not laminate your card. Laminated cards will not be honored. There is a $5.00 charge to replace damaged cards, including laminated cards. If your card is accidentally ruined, actual evidence of the card must be brought to Swiss Valley to have the card replaced. The Ski Club card allows students to ski 7 nights. Unused punches on the card are VOID after the 2017-18 season. NOTE: Swiss Valley and Schmucker Middle School cannot be responsible for unused punches on the Club Cards. Five nights of skiing (white punches on the club card) must be used on Schmucker Ski Club nights. The two remaining colored punches may be used on Monday night with the Ski Club OR members may use them on their own (on weekends, holidays, or a different weeknight). Swiss Valley requires 2 punches if you arrive before 3:30 p.m. (or 2:00 p.m. on Sundays).
FREE Lessons! Lessons are available for ALL Ski Club members on the first three Ski Club nights. Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced ski and snowboard lessons are offered to enable any member (both skiers AND snowboarders) to take advantage of this valuable program. Check at the Snowsports desk at Swiss Valley AND listen to announcements at school or Swiss Valley to see when lessons are available, where to meet, etc. Beginner skiers and snowboarders MUST take lessons and demonstrate sufficient control to avoid being a danger to themselves and others! NOTIFICATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS Sign up with REMIND You may receive the latest Ski Club alerts and updates regarding trip status (GO or NO GO?), etc. by signing up for the REMIND app/program. Please do NOT call the SMS Office with questions regarding trip status! Follow instructions below for your preferred method of staying informed, OR guarantee that you are always updated by signing up for BOTH. (Free + Free = still free!) BONUS CARDS & Half-Price Special Bonus cards are available in February for only $70. This card has 7 punches on it which may be used similarly to the regular punch card, white punches may be used ANY Monday through Friday and colored punches any day of the week including weekends. A punch is good for either lift or rental equipment. Bonus cards may also be shared among friends or family. YOU MUST TURN IN YOUR FULLY-USED CLUB CARD WHEN YOU PURCHASE A BONUS CARD! HALF PRICE SPECIAL! If you choose not to purchase a Bonus Card, you have the one-time option of turning in your fully used club card for a 1/2 price lift ticket any day that Swiss Valley is open! Equipment rental, if needed, is also 1/2 price. PARENTS SKI FREE? Special for Parents ONLY! A special colored punch located in the upper right corner on the Club Card will allow a onetime visit for either Mom or Dad. The student MUST accompany his/her parent to the ticket window on a night when the ski club visits as a group. The parent will register and receive a lift ticket, ski or snowboard rental equipment if needed, and a lesson if desired at no charge. Lessons for parents are only available on scheduled ski club nights through the end of January. This offer is for parents or guardians only and not transferable. SMS Ski Club NOTE Parents must provide their own transportation to Swiss Valley if taking part in this offer. You may transport your child OR have them ride the bus and arrange to meet at Swiss Valley. RENTAL REFUNDS Rental refunds are available from Swiss Valley (not Schmucker) for those who acquire ski equipment after registering for Ski Club. Contact Swiss Valley directly to request a refund. Deadline for requests: 1/31/18.
Ski Club Dates Ski Club will ski at Swiss Valley in Jones, Michigan on the 7 trip dates listed. Please note that these dates may change depending on weather, transportation, and other factors. Date Event Time(s) Notes Mon., Nov. 13 Weds, Nov. 22 Warren Miller Movie Premiere South Bend Civic Theater Ski Club Registration Deadline 2 Showtimes: 5:00 and 7:30 Friday, Dec. 15 Ski Trip #1 4:15-10:30 pm* Friday, Dec. 22 Ski Trip #2 4:15-10:30 pm* Mon., Jan. 8 Ski Trip #3 4:15-9:15 pm** Tues, Jan. 16 Ski Trip #4 4:15-9:15 pm Mon., Jan. 22 Ski Trip #5 4:15-9:15 pm Mon., Jan. 29 Ski Trip #6 4:15-9:15 pm Mon., Feb. 5 Ski Trip #7 4:15-9:15 pm (Mon., Feb. 12) (Tues., Feb. 20) (See flier for more info) Late registration fee is $10 if after Nov. 22! *NOTE the later pick-up time for the 1st 2 FRIDAY trips! *NOTE the later pick-up time for the 1st 2 FRIDAY trips! ** Notice that we will follow NORMAL pickup time schedule for all remaining trips. This is a TUESDAY trip because we do not have school Monday. (Make-up trip #1 If needed) (Make-up trip #2 If needed) PRICING - These are the options. ALL options include SMS Ski Club Membership. Choose the one that meets your needs: Ski Package Package Description Swiss Valley Fees PHM Fees Your Total Cost 1. Rental 7 Lift tickets, 3 Lessons, 7 Rentals $173 $40 $ 213 2. Non-Rental 7 Lift tickets, 3 Lessons, NO Rentals $131 $40 $ 171 3. Season Pass *FULL Season Pass $309 $40 $ 349 4. Season Pass Holder **For CURRENT Season Pass Holders ONLY!*** $10 $40 $ 50 * If you are ordering a season pass through SMS Ski Club (package 3), you MUST pick up and complete a Season Pass Application from the office or Mr. Sears in room 230. ** This option is for those who ALREADY have a 2017-2018 Season Pass from Swiss Valley! *** Swiss Valley requires a registration fee of $10 for any season pass holder who belongs to a weeknight ski club.
1. Each Ski Club member should be ready to leave Schmucker by 4:15 p.m. Buses depart Swiss Valley by 8:30 p.m. Also, see rule #14. Your ride should be at SMS by 9:15 P.M. 2. You must ride your assigned bus. 3. Corporation bus rules must be followed. 4. Corporation behavior rules are to be followed at all times. Behavior problems are the responsibility of Ski Club sponsors and the Schmucker administrators. Serious behavior problems will result in immediate expulsion from the Schmucker Ski Club. 5. Students must be in school on Ski Club days! This means you will NOT be allowed to go skiing unless you have attended school that day. 6. Students who have medical excuses from physical education classes will not be allowed to participate in Ski Club. 7. Students must be in school, on time, the day after skiing. Members who aren t in school will not be permitted to ride the ski bus the following week (unless ill). 8. Participation in Ski Club is not an excuse to skip homework! Students who are reported to the Ski Club sponsors for not having their homework done will not be allowed to ride the ski bus the following week. 9. If you lose your Ski Club pass, you will have to purchase a new one. This is a Swiss Valley rule! 10. Ski Club membership is non-refundable. 11. Follow all safety rules posted at Swiss Valley. 12. The lower lodge at Swiss Valley (the building with the bar and fireplace) is off-limits to Schmucker Ski Club members. 13. Bring your Ski Club pass and QUARTERS for locker rentals to every Ski Club. 14. At approximately 7:45 p.m., listen for announcements to return your rentals. The buses leave at 8:30 p.m. If you have skis or a snowboard to put on the cargo vehicle, you must arrive by 8:20 at the latest. If we have to wait for you, you will not ski the next trip. 15. Beginner skiers and snowboarders MUST take lessons and demonstrate sufficient control to avoid being a danger to themselves and others! 16. ANY Ski Club member who is riding home from Swiss Valley with a parent or friend must have a SIGNED note indicating the following: Member name, Ski Club Bus #, Date, and Parent/Guardian signature Give your note to Mr. Sears or the chaperone on your Ski Club bus.